Tony Mullins and Rory Cleary teamed up to take the Gra Chocolates Handicap with Kentucky Gal following a thrilling finish in the penultimate race this evening at Galway. Himalayan Heights headed fellow 4/1 joint favourite Ephesus approaching the home bend and was in turn challenged by Kentucky Gal at the furlong pole.

The pair fought out a tremendous battle with Kentucky Gal just proving the stronger in the closing stages.

The 11/1 shot then had to withstand a powerful late surge from Highland Bling by a fast-diminishing neck, with Himalayan Heights half-a-length back in third.

Mullins said, "I expected it and I think there is more to come again. I was amazed when she won over seven furlongs back in Gowran. Then she learned a good bit in the Curragh, it was her first day to race over a distance.

“Amazingly for one of mine I would imagine she's going to improve a good bit again on fast ground. There was a good cut in that ground.

“I'm really looking forward to next year, I think we might be getting up to where I only dream about at times. She's a big improver.

“She'll get another run, probably on fast ground, but we won't be hard on her this year.

“Three months ago she was too weak to even do fast work. She's really only coming and I'm just hoping she might be special.

“If the ground was fast for Champions Weekend we could look at that.”

Quotes by Gary Carson